Spontaneous Magnetic Skyrmions in Single-Layer CrInX 3 (X = Te, Se).

The realization of magnetic skyrmions in nanostructures holds great promise for both fundamental research and device applications. Despite recent progress, intrinsic magnetic skyrmions in two-dimensional lattice are still rarely explored. Here, using first-principles calculations and Monte Carlo simulations, we report the identification of spontaneous magnetic skyrmions in single-layer CrInX 3 (X = Te, Se). Because of the joint effect of broken inversion symmetry and strong spin-orbit coupling, inherent large Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction occurs in both systems, endowing the intriguing Néel-type skyrmions. By further imposing moderate magnetic field, the skyrmion phase can be obtained and is stable within a wide temperature range. Particularly for single-layer CrInTe 3 , the size of skyrmions is sub-10 nm and the skyrmion phase can be maintained at an elevated temperature of ∼180 K. In addition, the phase diagrams of their topological spin textures under the variation of magnetic parameters of D , J , and K are mapped out.